Party like it’s 1880!

It’s 1880-something and Essie Mae Hanover’s husband – Professor R.F. Hanover – has invented something wild. Architects all over the US and Europe are fascinated with skyscrapers and the way they are rapidly changing urban landscapes. But Professor Hanover is obsessed with something else… the Dome Home.

Professor R.F. Hanover’s “Dome Home” model

Built from panels constructed of triangles, the dome home offers a unique living space for the forward-thinking among Victorians. Essentially “all window,” dome homes are strong, sunny, and perfect for putting any sort of whim on display: from a painstakingly reconstructed opium den to a salon of curiosities featuring fossilized narwhals and live monkeys.

Why I will not be konmari-ing my mess

- stephanie

Marie Kondo is all the rage. AGAIN. My Instagram is chock full of her. Everyone is tidying up their homes… their studios… their vegetable peeler and scissor drawers. Sigh.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Marie is an organizing guru and author. A few years ago, she gained big notoriety when she wrote a book called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It is based on her method of organizing, called konmari. Read more

Holiday Survival for Creatives: Got the Van Gogh Blues?

- stephanie

(Need context for this post? Check out the introductory post for this series.)

I don’t think I’m out of line suggesting that populations of creative people tend to have higher numbers of depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. Often it’s the pain of these challenges that turns us to creative work in the first place. Of course the stress and chaos of the holidays can exacerbate mental health concerns and turn the whole season into a burden for anyone with mental and emotional issues. You’re not alone and you can survive. I’m speaking from experience, in case you can’t tell.

Holiday Survival for Creatives: Working Artists and Crafters

- stephanie

(Need context for this post? Check out the introductory post for this series.)

If you’re armpit-deep in the holiday show/market season right now, it may feel like there is precious little relief for you until January 2^nd. But all is not lost. Keep reading. Read more

Holiday Survival for Creatives: Side-Hustlers and Hobbyists

- stephanie

(Need context for this post? Check out the introductory post for this series.)

Making things with your hands brings you joy and relaxation… until the turkey is out of the oven and everyone is looking at you. They expect you to head up the decorating committee at work because you’re “SO artistic!” or they want to pay you [not nearly enough money] to make a quilt/knit a sweater/build a hope chest for someone they love because you’re “SO talented!” Worse yet, you excitedly bought all the supplies back in July to make gifts for everyone on your list… now it’s December 15^th and you have 2 out of 12 gifts done.

Holiday Survival for Creatives

- stephanie

It’s the happ- happiest season of all, right? The lights, the songs, the pumpkin spice everything. Family and friends. Gifts and good cheer. Or not.

Do you have beef with the holidays? I certainly do. Lots of people struggle with the holidays but I think creatives tend to feel it pretty acutely.

Super blogging resources!

- stephanie

So, your’s truly was invited to contribute my Time Management e-book to the Genius Blogger’s Toolkit available from Ultimate Bundles. Pretty neato, if I must say so myself!

The Toolkit consists of a gigantic bundle of tools and resources for bloggers of all levels from newbies to advanced. If you purchased each item individually, it would cost you over $5,000. Phew! I don’t know about you, but mama can’t afford that. However, if you get in on it during the 6 day sales period, you get all this loot for only $97.

Before you click away, thinking “this isn’t for me… I”m not a blogger,” let me ask you this:

The practical aspects of disappointment

- stephanie 1 Comment

(this is a follow-up to my post on the mindfulness of disappointment – read that HERE)

In my last post, I discussed how to reframe feelings of failure when you get turned down for an opportunity. While I’m specifically talking about juried exhibits and gallery shows, the advice can apply to more: job applications… promotions… product launches… any situation where you put yourself out there and it doesn’t turn out as you hoped.

In this post, I wanted to talk about some of the more practical aspects of the “you just got turned down” situation. Understanding these aspects can further help you get past feelings of disappointment and back to trying.

The mindfulness of disappointment

- stephanie 1 Comment

The original working title of this post was “The mindfulness of failure.” But then I realized I was being a complete hypocrite. I wanted to discuss the attitude of not being hard on yourself and I was using a terrible word like failure!

So I stepped back for a bit in order to practice what I preach.

2017: the year of slow sewing

- stephanie

Embroidery detail - the year of slow sewing | www.creativeandmindful.com I’ve written a couple of times about slow sewing/slow crafting here at Creative + Mindful. (HERE and HERE if you’d like to read) But in the last couple of months, I’ve felt this incredible pull toward doing more than just dabbling.

Much as I love my sewing machine (ok, ok… you got me… machineS), I’ve had this feeling of “meh” when I think about modern sewing lately. Each time I look at my fabric stash, I dream about hand stitching something versus pulling out the machine. Read more